Planning/Zoning Services

The Planning Division's primary function is to carry out a comprehensive, long-term plan for the orderly and harmonious development and improvement of land.    This is done in accordance with the  Alhambra Consolidated Plan for Housing & Community Development (2005-2010), which is required of each city by the State of California.

Casita de Zen is an approved five-story mixed-use development to be built at the northwestern corner of Main & Third Streets. The proposed development plan calls for 92 residential condominium units and up to 5,000 SF of commercial space with the capability to include two restaurants.

The Alhambra City Planning Commission is responsible for guiding the City's planning process and is comprised of ten individuals appointed by the City Council from the community. Their work includes identification of planning-related problems and opportunities; review of plans for projects requiring zoning changes, variances, or subdivision approval, as well as publicly-supported projects such as those initiated by the Alhambra Redevelopment Agency. The Commission meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

On a day-to-day basis the Planning Division staff answers a variety of questions pertaining to applications/permits for land and building use. To streamline the permit process, both the Planning and Building Divisions provide contractors and homeowners with an easy step-by-step guide for completing the process. On large-scale projects, pre-construction coordination meetings are held with project proponents and all City staff who will play a role in the construction process to help ensure a smooth running project.

Common Planning Issues 
Anti-Mansionization - The Planning Commission has adopted an informal anti-mansionization policy to enable objective evaluation of the floor area compatibility of new single family residences and additions to existing single family residences.

The Commission’s anti-mansionization policy is used as a gauge to determine the compatibility of a new or expanded single family home by comparing its size to the average (mean and median) size of the other single family homes within the study area.  The size of the study area is comprised of a 300-foot radius around the boundaries of the subject property and is equivalent to the public notice notification radius.  Only properties developed with single family homes are included in the analysis and mean and median house sizes are calculated.  Properties with more than one unit, vacant lots and non-residential properties are not included.

The size of a new or expanded home would typically be considered compatible if the size of the home did not exceed the mean and median size home by more than 75%.  In addition to total floor area, the Planning Commission also reviews lot areas and floor area ratios for the affected properties to give a more complete picture of the neighborhood.

Projects that comply with the policy are not guaranteed to be approved, and projects that exceed the 75% threshold above the mean and median house size are not automatically rejected.  The policy is one of several tools used by the Planning Commission in reviewing projects, including architectural design, bulk, scale, materials of construction, building height, setbacks, parking and landscaping to determine compatibility with the existing neighborhood.

Flexible Development Standards (R-3 Zoned Properties) - To promote additional development, Alhambra affords flexible development standards on R-3 zoned properties. The goal is to promote higher quality multiple family residential development, encourage innovative design and efficient use of land that might otherwise be stifled by rigid development standards, encourage consolidation of parcels, and judge permit developments on individual merits. The flexible development standards provision allows for variation from up to three of the provisions required by the R-3 zone, three provisions required by the property development standards, and three provisions required by the design standards. In addition, flexible parking standards may also be requested but are subject to approval by the Planning Commission. Flexible development standards are restricted to lots 40,000 square feet and larger.

Other Common Planning Issues - include downzoning areas to preserve the single-family character and integrity of neighborhoods; reducing the number of units that can be built on any given parcel to create more open space; and reducing parking problems by researching ways to modify the City's zoning ordinance.